Kenny Cooper

Red Bulls veterans are as much to thank for the recent winning streak as the surprising youngsters

Give some credit to the New York Red Bulls. They won again without Thierry Henry (hamstring), Rafa Marquez (due back from suspension by injured his ankle in training), Stephen Keel (back sprain), Teemu Tainio (right knee sprain) and Wilman Conde (left groin sprain). Somehow they found a way to win starting rookies at three back line positions. I hardly imagined New York picking up three points against the Houston Dynamo with a lineup featuring a 5’5” rookie left back (Connor Lade), a center back with 225 minutes of playing time in the MLS (Tyler Ruthven), a four year pro who never seemed to latch on with D.C. United (Brandon Barklage), and a rookie keeper fresh out of college (Ryan Meara). Admit it, you didn’t expect a win either. And even if you did think they would manage to pull out a victory, you had to know it would come in another 1-0 affair.